Reviews
"A remarkable book. It has drama, it has pathos, it has passion, it has literary grace." -- Bob Post, Journal of Transport History, "An exhaustively researched, engagingly written study of the planning, designing, building, and operating of the Washington Metro." -- Sy Adler, Journal of American History, "In this superbly-written book, Zachary Schrag, ... explains how this achievement came about and what its impact is." -- Technology and Culture, "A masterful new book... Schrag's The Great Society Subway gives an eloquent and hopeful explanation of how this marvelous system came to be, and backs it up with an enormous amount of evidence and keen historical perspective." -- Washington History, "A graceful, fact-packed history of the genesis, development, and current state of the Washington Metro system." -- H-DC, [Schrag] shows the interrelationship of citizens' hopes and fears, visionaries' ideas, politicians' need to succeed, engineers' practical requirements, and the ebb and flow of affecting events over time. It is a fascinating story well told... a love story by an historian for his city and its people., "The author makes us privy to the thinking that went into the system's design." -- Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post Book World, An excellent book... a welcome and readable addition to the literature of how we construct the societies we inhabit., "In clear and engaging prose, Schrag interweaves facts with a wide range of pragmatic, political, and aesthetic matters with discussions of those who posed and resolved the issues." -- Pamela Scott, Journal of Social History, Without question high drama... I strongly recommend that you put down the latest Baldacci mystery and ready this very well written, comprehensive, and entertaining book... one terrific book that belongs on lots of shelves, from planners to historians to rail buffs to politicians., "Without question high drama... I strongly recommend that you put down the latest Baldacci mystery and ready this very well written, comprehensive, and entertaining book... one terrific book that belongs on lots of shelves, from planners to historians to rail buffs to politicians." -- Konrad J. Perlman, Journal of Planning Literature, Beginning with the history of Washington, DC, and the influences that shaped it, Schrag presents one of the clearest explanations I have ever read on these complex processes... a love story by an historian for his city and its people., An exhaustively researched, engagingly written study of the planning, designing, building, and operating of the Washington Metro., "Most readers of T& C will find The Great Society Subway a joy to read." -- Gregory L. Thompson, Technology and Culture, In this superbly-written book, Zachary Schrag,... explains how this achievement came about and what its impact is., "A masterful new book... Schrag's The Great Society Subway gives an eloquent and hopeful explanation of how this marvelous system came to be, and backs it up with an enormous amount of evidence and keen historical perspective." -- Charlene Bickford, Washington History, 2006, A graceful, fact-packed history of the genesis, development, and current state of the Washington Metro system., "Beginning with the history of Washington, DC, and the influences that shaped it, Schrag presents one of the clearest explanations I have ever read on these complex processes... a love story by an historian for his city and its people." -- William W. Millar, Journal of the American Planning Association, "Schrag has written a valuable study of the role of infrastructure in shaping the modern, urban world, and he aptly shows both the possibiities and limitations of major public investments... insights especially illuminating." -- J. Lawrence Lee, CRM: Journal of Heritage Stewardship, Schrag has written a valuable study of the role of infrastructure in shaping the modern, urban world, and he aptly shows both the possibiities and limitations of major public investments... insights especially illuminating., "An excellent book... a welcome and readable addition to the literature of how we construct the societies we inhabit." -- Alex Marshall, Regional Plan Association Spotlight, "The Great Society Subway is a great book for students of contemporary transit history." -- Alexander D. Mitchell, Railfan and Railroad, "A welcome and readable addition to the literature of how we construct the societies we inhabit." -- Alex Marshall, Hartford Courant, In clear and engaging prose, Schrag interweaves facts with a wide range of pragmatic, political, and aesthetic matters with discussions of those who posed and resolved the issues., In this superbly-written book, Zachary Schrag... explains how this achievement came about and what its impact is... A joy to read., A masterful new book... Schrag's The Great Society Subway gives an eloquent and hopeful explanation of how this marvelous system came to be, and backs it up with an enormous amount of evidence and keen historical perspective., "Extensively researched, cleverly structured, and finely written, this book stands out for the way it provides an integral, comprehensive account of a key urban service." -- Georg Leidenberger, American Historical Review, Extensively researched, cleverly structured, and finely written, this book stands out for the way it provides an integral, comprehensive account of a key urban service.
